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We are pleased to present the Club's 2005 travel program to you and hope our "discover the world" calendar will help in your planning of an unforgettable and worry-free trip with us during the coming year. You'll travel in the collegiate company of your fellow Club members with similar interests who are inquisitive and eager to broaden their cultural and intellectual horizons. We take great pride is designing handcrafted trips that are enjoyable and broaden our cultural and intellectual horizons-our goal is to provide easy touring, adventure, and educationally oriented travel opportunities that are not available commercially.
For more information on these outstanding Commonwealth Club trips, feel free to call our tour desk at (415) 597-6720 or e-mail us at travel@commonwealthclub.org.
Bon Voyage!
Lasse Lidstrom
Director of Club Travel
March 12 - March 24
Now that the travel embargo on Libya has been lifted, we are going there! Join your fellow Club members on a special and intimate cruise to visit this ancient land before it is discovered by mass tourism. Scattered along the 1,200 miles of Libya's Mediterranean coast are Phoenician, Greek, Roman and Early Christian sites that comprise the richest collections of archaeological treasures found anywhere in the region. Exploring the ancient sites of Libya and Tunisia from the comfort of a ship is ideal, since all the sites are near the coast, making them easily accessible. For this exciting moment in travel history, we will travel aboard the all-suite Clelia II, accommodating just 88 guests. Seize the moment and be among the first to see this incredible part of North Africa! Tour cost: from $6,995 + air > Details |
May 15 - May 23
Join us for an unforgettable week in Chianti – Italy's most famous wine district, and land of vineyards, hilltop castles and slender cypress trees! Your home will be Villa Tavolese in the quaint village of Marcialla, which lies in the heart of the Chianti region, overlooking the breathtaking Elsa Valley. You'll explore Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance and home to the world's greatest art and architectural treasures; Siena, with its narrow cobblestone streets and lovely Gothic buildings; and San Gimignano, "Manhattan of the Middle Ages," where soaring towers clustered within ancient walls pierce the skyline. You'll learn about winemaking at the Castello di Monsanto and explore Tuscany's crystal center, Colle di Val d'Elsa. Tour cost: $1,995 + air |
by river ship and royal train May 25 - June 3
Our regal, ten-day journey aboard the deluxe M/S Amadeus Classic and the luxurious Majestic Imperator train spans the heart of Europe from the Czech Republic to Germany and includes five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the historic centers of Prague, Vienna, Kraków and Budapest, as well as the stunning Wachau Valley. The Majestic Imperator is a faithful reproduction of the train that carried Habsburg royalty throughout their realm, and our deluxe Amadeus Classic is the newest member of the fi ve-star Amadeus fleet of river ships. As you board the Majestic Imperator in Prague, you'll agree with Empress Elisabeth of Austria that "a destination only becomes desirable because the journey lies in between!" Tour cost: from $2,495 + air > Details |
*An Independent Traveler Expedition* May 25 - June 2 Join booklovers from all over the UK, Europe and America at a spectacular festival of literature and the arts in the English-Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye. Known as the "used-book capital of the world," this small town celebrates its literary heritage for ten days each spring. Many extras included! Estimated tour cost: $3,450 including air > Details |
June 22 - July 4 Explore the kingdoms of the Baltic with us – the former Soviet Republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – a region so rich in history and culture that it is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Your journey begins in Vilnius, Lithuania's ancient capital, with its remarkably well-preserved complex of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Continue to Riga, Latvia, and its collection of Art Nouveau buildings, considered the finest in Europe. Few places in Europe retain the aura of medieval times as authentically as the Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia's ancient seacoast capital. You'll cross the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki, a gracious city surrounded by water on three sides and fringed by islands. An optional Club-only extension to the famed Savonlinna Opera Festival in southeastern Finland can also be arranged. Tour cost: $2,795 + air |
July 4 - July 13 Introducing our Lifelong Learning series, we invite you to join us on an exploration of the little-known Nordic country of Iceland. Venture into a fiery landscape of lava fields, steam vents, bubbling mud pools and thermal springs. Explore mystic lakes and the immense Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier. To enjoy even more of the pristine and elemental beauty, you can opt to extend the program to Greenland, the world's largest island and second largest ice cap. Tour cost: $4,595 + air |
July 30 - August 12
A perennial favorite among Club members, our 14-day adventure features a six-night cruise of Russia's rivers, lakes and canals, from Moscow to St. Petersburg, with three nights aboard our chartered vessel Novikov Priboy in both cities. Departing Moscow, we'll travel the Moscow/Volga Canal, Volga River, Lake Onega, Svir River, Lake Ladoga and Neva River to reach imperial St. Petersburg, now glittering as in her former glory. All meals, sightseeing and shore excursions are included, as well as a series of educational lectures and cultural activities. An optional post-trip extension to Finland's modern capital, Helsinki, is offered. Tour cost: from $1,795 + air > Details |
July 30 - August 6 The Pacific Northwest is home to some of the most diverse and lavishly scenic landscapes in North America. This area is one of glaciered peaks and lush forests, dynamic cities, native cultures and a seascape of dramatic islands and harbors. On our tour we will experience the sophistication of Seattle and Victoria, the lush rainforests and tall peaks of the Olympic Peninsula and the rugged beauty of the San Juan Islands. We will stay in charming, carefully selected, intimate hotels, and dine on fresh local cuisine. In the company of local experts, join us on this spectacular and unique tour featuring the very best of the Pacific Northwest. Tour cost: $2,395 + air > Details |
August 26 - September 6
The blue waters of the glorious Adriatic Sea are waiting for you! Explore the Mediterranean's undiscovered region aboard our private yacht, Callisto, accommodating only 34 guests. Enjoy three captivating nights in Croatia's atmospheric capital, Zagreb, at the elegant Art Deco-style Hotel Esplanade, built in 1925 but recently completely renovated, and travel to the Adriatic in a private deluxe motor coach through bucolic old villages and an enchanting region of rolling hills, forested wetlands and lush vineyards. During the seven-night cruise you'll visit unspoiled islets, pristine beaches and intimate coves and harbors inaccessible to large, commercial cruise liners. Enhanced by an educational program conducted by accompanying study leaders, our trip will show you the Adriatic usually only seen by the locals. Tour cost: from $6,495 + air |
August 28 - September 8 The Black Sea is ringed by captivating cities that have played pivotal roles in the emergence of Western civilization. Our journey spans the ancient seas from Athens to Ukraine and back to Rome, including the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Dardanelles Strait and the Mediterranean Sea. We'll cover an incredible range of topography, from volcanic cliffs and simmering craters to soft sandy beaches to verdant hills of cypress. Each day unfolds in a series of breathtaking panoramas and sensory impressions that will stay with you forever. A special $100 Commonwealth Club shipboard credit is included! Cruise cost: from $3,995 + air |
September 4 - September 11 Our eight-day exploration of Hemingway's beloved Basque country is an excellent opportunity for learning and discovery. Using a deluxe hotel in St.-Jean-de-Luz as our home base on the French side of the border, we'll make excursions into this fascinating part of the world, including a stop at Biarritz. The striking Guggenheim Museum by Frank Gehry in Bilbao will naturally be showcased. There will be ample leisure time so you can explore this extraordinary region on your own. Tour cost: $2,795 + air > Details |
September 9 - September 17 An exclusive, first-time offering featuring a nine-day stay in the heart of the Tyrolian Alps allows you to experience Austrian village life in the charming village of Igls. Our allinclusive sightseeing program includes three countries: Austria, Italy and Germany; Mozart's birthplace of Salzburg; King Ludwig II's fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle; and the imperial city of Innsbruck! You will visit a working alpine farm, participate in a dry fl ower-binding workshop, and enjoy lively folkloric performances. The comprehensive educational and cultural enrichment program includes an exclusive village forum in Igls to discuss history, politics and contemporary issues of the region, and a lecture about the history of the von Trapp family in Salzburg. Tour cost: $2,095 + air |
September 14 - September 22 Poland, together with the Czech Republic, perhaps best exemplifies the New Europe. Emerged from communist slumber, Poland is forging ahead as a dynamic and entrepreneurial nation. The historic center of Kraków, Poland's spiritual capital and our home for seven nights, was miraculously spared the destruction of World Wars I and II, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its compact, pedestrian-friendly historic center is an open-air museum waiting to be discovered. We'll explore the surrounding Malopolska region on educational day trips, including the Black Madonna of Czestochowa – the most treasured icon in Poland – and the charming resort town of Zakopane, site of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Tour cost: $1,895 + air |
September 29 - October 9 One of the last untouched areas of our planet, Patagonia lies in the southernmost region of South America. Join your fellow Club members on an extraordinary cruise to explore Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia, the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego. You will travel comfortably on the new 129-passenger exploration vessel M/V Mare Australis, which combines well-appointed accommodations and personalized service with meticulous environmental sensitivity. Our ship cruises seven days through legendary seas to places rich in history, scenic grandeur, exotic wildlife and adventure. Zodiac excursions and daily walks will take you to virgin forests, fjords and glaciers that very few people get to witness. An optional extension will be offered to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Tour cost: $3,810 + air |
October 15 - October 22 We'll begin our intriguing exploration of exotic Morocco in the remarkable capital of Rabat, at once modern and ancient with its bustling street scene, old Muslim quarter and architectural remnants of ages past. You'll visit the famous medina in Fčs, Morocco's oldest imperial city; and discover the surprising, European-influenced, alpine village of Ifrane on the way to Marrakesh. You'll have three nights in dynamic Marrakesh, a city fabled for its rose-red architecture, proud Berber tribesmen, palaces, souks, gardens and ruined casbahs. You'll also explore Morocco's Atlantic Coast before concluding your adventure in Casablanca, the country's most populous and well-known city. Tour cost: $2,095 + air > Details |
October 22 - October 29 Apulia occupies the boot heel of Italy's extreme southeast peninsula. Completely different from Northern Italy and much less crowded, its sunny location provides ideal conditions for the cultivation of vineyards and olive groves. The region produces one-tenth of the wine consumed in Europe, and its olive oil is renowned. We'll explore all that this undiscovered gem has to offer – superlative cuisine and wines; medieval cathedrals and deserted Greek and Roman ruins; fantastic regional architecture; and some of the most unspoiled beaches in the Mediterranean. Tour is limited to 20 people! Tour cost: $2,495 + air > Details |
IMPORTANT
This is merely an announcement of the tour program of the Commonwealth Club of California. Please refer to individual tour folders/agencies for specific itineraries, tour inclusions, exclusions and responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of the tour participant to ascertain directly with the vendor agency of each program what the exact requirements, payment due dates and fees pertaining to each program are. A Commonwealth Club representative accompanies each tour to enhance the study tour aspects and to represent the Club on the tour. The Club reserves the right to cancel the tour and/or not provide a Club representative if the number of participants falls below the number sufficient for a Club-sponsored tour.
All tour prices are per person, double occupancy and airfare, when included, is from San Francisco unless otherwise noted; all travel dates and tour costs are subjected to change. Included in all tour prices is a modest charge to cover the Commonwealth Club's costs of administering a membership tour program. All dates and tour costs are subject to changes at any time. Tour participants must be members of the Commonwealth Club of California or belong to their immediate family.
If you wish to receive more information on our
2005 Tour Program, please contact The Club's travel desk at (415) 597-6720 or email the Club Tour Desk
with the following information:
-Your Name
-Address
-Home Phone
-Tour Name/s
